Supply down prices up at Bendigo

Yarding - 21,985

Lamb supply went down, quality declined and prices were dearer. 15,685 lambs were yarded to be down nearly 4000 head on a week ago. Once again lambs with weight above 26kg cwt were in limited supply, and there was hardly an export lamb over 30kg cwt. Some agents did lead with shorn lambs and they are becoming more prominent with the lead offering the best quality to processors compared to unshorn types. Heavy shorn lambs sold to $298/head and unshorn young lambs to $285/head. Export demand was stronger. At the other end of the market light lambs were pushed to dearer levels by increased restocking demand, with orders back in the market from the Mallee/Wimmera, north-east Victoria, Shepparton, and local Bendigo area. Store lambs were $7 to $12/head dearer. The in-between trade lambs in the 20-22kg cwt range were dearer in places but were still subject to selective bidding based around quality and there was still quite a large carcass price spread over these pens.

Shorn lambs sold to $298/head for an estimated 28-30kg cwt, while the rest of the heavier types over 26kg cwt sold from $228 to $271 to average a ballpark 930c/kg cwt. The lead offering the unshorn young lambs over 26kg cwt sold from $228 to $285/head to also average over 900c/kg cwt. Best of the medium and heavy trade young lambs $180 to $238 at averages of 830c to 870c/kg cwt. Plainer trade lambs lacking fat cover or lighter trades sold from $155 to $175/head, varying from 730c to 800c/kg cwt.

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Competition for store lambs intensified with new orders appearing after the rain. Bigger crossbred store lambs with frame $140 to $147/head. Main run of 16-18kg cwt store lambs $120 to $147/head; smaller store lambs 12-16kg cwt $80 to $128/head.

The sheep sale was steady to a few dollars stronger over a reduced yarding of 6300 head. Heavy Merino wethers topped at $142, extra large crossbred ewes at $130. Most sheep sold from $60 to $110 head at an estimated cost of 360c to 420c/kg cwt. Light sheep recorded some of the best price gains in the mutton run.

https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Services/Bendigo-Livestock-Exchange